The Leon V. Pont Extensive Personal Collection of Indian First Flight and Related Covers, 1911 to 1934, all chronologically displayed in four volumes, with each item conserved in a glassine, accompanied by a sheet of information (the same as was used by Lady Ezra) including number of items carried, postmarks, cachets, and more, often with personal observations and notes, as well as several contemporary newspaper clippings from the flights, photographs, etc. The collection consists of 367 different items, which are the best quality Mr. Pont could find. As he had much duplication of some, he was always careful to keep the best items (postmarks, routes, pilot signatures, etc.) in his personal collection. There are way too many good items to list here, but it should be assumed that the collection includes one of each of most Indian flights and legs known in the period, including several where only a handful were flown. The collection also includes interesting items such as a FDC for the first Airmail stamps, FDC of airmail stationery, some incorrect cachets, some original photographs, two complete sets of Tata Sons special covers (with and without Union Jack flag), two sheets of blue unused bilingual airmail labels (one with and one without watermark), three different 1911 flight covers, rare souvenir cards from the 1913 Great Aerial Exhibition as well as many covers and cards selling for $300 to $1,000 each. See our website for scans of all the items contained in this once in a lifetime collection. The person who buys this collection will also get Mr. Pont's personal correspondence letters (mostly between him and Mr. Stephen Smith, with very interesting facts on his rocket mail endeavors), as well as a 1st prize trophy cup he won at the 1932 Air Mail Exhibition in London England, plus four medals, two silver ones won at the same show and two large bronze ones won at the 1934 Air Mail Exhibition in London (all in their original boxes, with a damaged original catalogue of the show). Last but not least we will include original programs for the First and Second Airmail Exhibitions in India (1930 and 1932, held at Lady Ezra's residence, where Mr. Pont was a presenter in the First and an award recipient in the Second), a group of about 50 Aero Philatelic Club of India monthly bulletins from 1926 to 1937, and other related items including a (damaged) 1929 and 1930 Graf Zeppelin wine list given to him as a Christmas gift by Stephen Smith (with letter dated 1931), as well as Mr. Pont's personal used Penny Black stamp in a special folder. Should this lot not attain our $60,000 reserve starting price, we will dismantle it and offer each item separately in our September 2020 sale. A very rare occasion to obtain such a complete collection intact. Rsv. $60,000. (Image)

Est $ 60,000

1911.FEB.11 World's First Official Air Mail Flight, Allahbad to Naini Junction, then to Calcutta, with Allahabad and Bombay datestamps on front. A large size post card with large magenta First Aerial Post cachet canceling stamp, plus a second free strike, reverse depicting the biplane used for this historical air mail flight. The card is signed on back by the pilot Henri Pequet (only 40 recorded) and on front by Stephen H. Smith. Tears at bottom, still a rare and desirable flight. (Image)

Est $ 1,000

1911.FEB.11 World's First Official Air Mail Flight, Allahbad to Naini Junction, then to Calcutta. A cover with large magenta First Aerial Post cachet canceling the 2a6p stamp, addressed to Hamburg, Germany. Reverse shows Allahabad and Bombay datestamps, alongside Stephen Smith's signature. Bit of aging, still scarce. (Image)

Est $ 500

1925.JAN.23 RAF Demonstration Flight, Calcutta-Risalpur, with large purple "Calcutta-Risalpur Demonstration Flight, Calcutta 1925" flight cachet, with India 1a tied by Risalpur Feb. 2 datestamp on cover to Nowshera, endorsed "Ft. Lt. Graham" at top, arrival backstamp, Signed by Stephen Smith on back, with light edge faults at top, still very fine, only 89 were addressed to Nowshera. Also includes two more (both damaged) covers, being a second one addressed to Nowshera (tears at top) and one addressed to Ambala (quite damaged). (Image)

Est $ 300

1925 Group of Six Flight Items, FEB.7 Akyab to Rangoon (initialed by Sir Alan J. Cobham, backflap re-attached, 49 letters carried), FEB.19 Calcutta to Karachi (two covers with purple flight cachet and small biplane handstamp plus a real photo postcard depicting the airplane, signed by engineer Elliott, missing its label), MAR.17-18 Calcutta to London (two covers with green labels, purple flight cachets and 3d postage due stamps, 121 items carried). Some of these are faulty, in that the labels are missing or have been re-attached and there is some staining, etc. from exposure to humidity, still a scarce group. See scans. (Image)

Est $ 300

1925.JUN.12 Quetta Emergency Air Mail Covers, two covers mailed from Hindubagh to Quetta, with same day receiver on back. Vertical crease on both (as usual for these) tear on back of the one addressed in Hindu and missing backflap plus blue writing offset on the other addressed in English, still two rare Indian covers, with only 12 items carried on the outbound flight. (Image)

Est $ 200

1925 de Pinedo World Flight, Calcutta to Melbourne, franked with a ½a and 1½a KGV definitives, with a red handstamp reading "Italian Consul General's (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25. / No. 750/11. / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/1925.". Back shows a purple cachet with map "ITALIAN / WORLD AIR / FLIGHT" (also another strike partly visible on front), with green initials of Stephen Smith and the president of the Aero Philatelic Club of India H.A. Outhwaite (these, apparently to prevent duplication). This is the right half of the cover only, as the 93 existing covers had all been intentionally cut in half, as they had been signed by de Pinedo after a promised charity donation had failed (the half with his signature are missing). Accompanied by a copy of a fairly contemporary article written on these interesting covers. This one is numbered 77 (out of 93), very fine and rare. (Image)

Est $ 750

1925 de Pinedo World Flight, Calcutta to Melbourne, franked with two 1a KGV definitives, with a red handstamp reading "Italian Consul General's (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25. / No. 750/11. / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/1925.". Back shows a purple cachet with map "ITALIAN / WORLD AIR / FLIGHT" (also another strike partly visible on front), with green initials of Stephen Smith and the president of the Aero Philatelic Club of India H.A. Outhwaite (these, apparently to prevent duplication). This is the right half of the cover only, as the 93 existing covers had all been intentionally cut in half, as they had been signed by de Pinedo after a promised charity donation had failed (the half with his signature are missing). Accompanied by a copy of a fairly contemporary article written on these interesting covers. This one is numbered 42 (out of 93), very fine and rare. (Image)

Est $ 750

1925.DEC.31 Dropped Leaflets From an RAF Calcutta Flight, both reading "A Grand Military Searchlight Tatoo" at top (one in red and one in black), with text below explaining a charity fund raising event for military aid. Each also has a blue double circle "DELIVERED BY AIR OVER CALCUTTA / 31 DEC 25 / 10 A.M.", and one is also franked with a 1a postage stamp, cancelled in Calcutta on the same day. Both folded, one has a corner crease ending in a small tear (closed with hinge). Scarce documents, as it is believed that only a dozen leaflets passed through the mails. (Image)

Est $ 150

1926.JAN.2 Royal Air Force Demonstration Flight Stationery Post Card, Calcutta to Risalpur, with purple intaglio cachet "Hawasae / by Air", R.A.F. oval cachet and small photograph depicting an elephant and biplane. The oval cachet has the pilot's initials (Spruce). Signed by Stephen Smith on back, with light staining (mostly on back) still scarce with 51 postcards flown to Risalpur. (Image)

Est $ 200

1926.JAN.2 Royal Air Force Demonstration Flight Cover, Calcutta to Patna, with purple intaglio cachet "Hawasae / by Air" and small photograph depicting an elephant and biplane. The oval cachet has the pilot's initials (Spruce). Signed by Stephen Smith on back, scarce with 69 covers flown to Patna. (Image)

Est $ 200

1926.JAN.22 Royal Air Force Demonstration Flight Items, with two covers Calcutta to Risalpur, with two different oval purple cachets. Both are inscribed and initialed by the Pilot E.H. Spruce and are addressed to Stephen Smith. One is a 1a stationery cover and the other is a cover franked with two ½a stamps, all cancelled by two red pen strokes. One of the covers has blue offset ink on front, else overall fine, with only 40 covers flown. (Image)

Est $ 300

1926.APR.4 Calcutta to Rangoon First Flight Covers, each with a different franking, alongside slogan air mail label reading "AVAIL AIR MAILS / AND / SAVE TIME". A black two line handstamp reads "BY DANISH FOKKER AEROPLANES 1926. / CALCUTTA TO RANGOON.", and two purple strikes reading "ROYAL DANISH LEGION" (one in English and one in Danish). Very fine and scarce, with only 78 covers carried. (Image)

Est $ 400

1926.APR.4 Calcutta to Bangkok First Flight Cover, franked with three 1a KGV definitives, alongside slogan air mail label reading "AVAIL AIR MAILS / AND / SAVE TIME". A black two line handstamp reads "BY DANISH FOKKER AEROPLANES 1926. / CALCUTTA TO BANGKOK.", and two purple strikes reading "ROYAL DANISH LEGION" (one in English and one in Danish). Very fine and scarce, with only 41 covers carried. (Image)

Est $ 400

1926.APR.4 Calcutta to Tokyo First Flight Cover, franked with a 1a and 2a KGV definitives, on top of slogan air mail label reading "AVAIL AIR MAILS / AND / SAVE TIME". A black two line handstamp reads "BY DANISH FOKKER AEROPLANES 1926. / CALCUTTA TO TOKYO.", and two purple strikes reading "ROYAL DANISH LEGION" (one in English and one in Danish). There is a large label on back explaining the flight in detail, and there is no despatch datestamp, but there is a note mentioning "Received back 23rd May 26" plus Stephen Smith initials dated April 3rd. Very fine and rare, with only 31 covers carried. (Image)

Est $ 500

1926.APR.18 Calcutta to Manilla Flight Cover, carried on a biplane by Spanish pilots (signed by Capt. Joaquin Loriga Gallarza), with stamp tied by neat biplane cancel, with salmon coloured flight label (with Stephen Smith initials), back shows a large pictorial cachet dated manilla MAY.18.1926. A scarce flight, with only 43 items carried, very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200

1926.APR.19 Karachi to Calcutta First Flight Cover endorsed "by Spanish Air Flight", with small label identifying it as #18 (out of 26 letters carried), with signature of pilot Lt. Joaquim Loriga, who was later killed on a test flight before attempting a transatlantic flight. Signed by Stephen Smith on back. Overall soiling, still a rare cover. (Image)

Est $ 350

1926.APR.22 Calcutta to Rangoon Flight Covers, two similar covers (franking is slightly different), both with labels reading "AVAIL AIR MAILS / AND / SAVE TIME" plus salmon colored flight label, and both signed by the Pilot Capt. Fransesco Gallarza. Both very fine, with 51 covers carried. (Image)

Est $ 200

1926.JUL.23 England to Australia Flight Cover, carried by pilot Alan J. Cobham from Karachi to Calcutta, addressed to Stephen Smith, with pink flight label (tied by violet "BY D. H. 50"), and air mail label. A scarce flight, with only 43 items carried, very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200

1926.JUL.23 England to Australia Flight Covers, all three with text cachet explaining the tumultuous flight. The first was mailed with "Calcutta to Rangoon" in red, franked with 1a KGV definitive tied by Calcutta G.P.O. JUL.23.1926 c.d.s., addressed to Rangoon, with JUL.26 receiver on back (photographic cachet is missing, and has a pencil notation of the route taken). Two other covers were not flown, one reads "Carried from Calcutta to Melbourne" the other "Calcutta to Rangoon, and one says "Mint Cover" while the other has a Stephen Smith signature alongside "Mint cover". Some aging (mostly on backs), still a very fine and rare trio, with only 45 items carried (Image)

Est $ 350

1926.JUL.23 Karachi to Calcutta Leg of Cobham's England - Australia Flight, franked with two ½a stamps, alongside a label "AVAIL AIR MAILS / AND / SAVE TIME" and salmon coloured flight label. Addressed to Mr. Pont care of Stephen Smith, and numbered #27 out of 43 covers flown. Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200

1927.JAN.29 to MAR.10 Basra to Cairo Despatch Flight Covers, with three different flights (JAN.29, FEB.27 and MAR.10), each franked differently and each with violet boxed "AIR MAIL SERVICE / BASRA - CAIRO / (KARACHI D.P.O.)" cachet and single-line red "AIR MAIL - Urgent - Basra - Cairo" cachets on two, the other reads "Urgent By Aeroplane / Basra - Cairo". All three addressed to Warwicks England, with Basrah backstamps. In his excellent book, Mr. Pradip Jain writes: "On 6th January 1927, Imperial Airways took over the operation of the Cairo - Baghdad service and extended the route to Basra. The fortnightly flight increased to weekly from 13th April 1927. First flight from Basra was on 7th January 1927". A very fine trio. (Image)

Est $ 200

1927.FEB.11 Basra to Cairo Despatch Flight Cover, franked with 5 stamps, with black boxed "AIR MAIL SERVICE / BASRA - CAIRO / (KARACHI D.P.O.)" cachet and single-line red "AIR MAIL - Urgent - Basra - Cairo" cachet, addressed to Warwicks England, with FEB.18 Basrah backstamp. According to Mr. Pont "Covers bearing the BLACK cachet are very scarce being used only once as an experiment". Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200

1927.FEB.18 Royal Air Force Display Covers, first is a 1a stationery cover addressed to Delhi (same day R.A.F. special receiver on back), second one is a cover franked with a 1a stamp, addressed to Calcutta (with Delhi FEB.18 and Calcutta FEB.20 backstamps) with photographic cachet depicting several biplanes and reading "By Aeroplane". Mr. Pont noted that the number of items carried for these was "limited" for one and "unknown" for the other. Also includes a FEB.14.1927 cover mailed Karachi to Calcutta with special purple Crown cachet reading "Air Mails India / By Light Aeroplane / Karachi G.P.O. / With Messrs Stack & Teete", with R.A.F. Delhi backstamp dated FEB.18, Mr. Pont notes that 900 of these were carried. All three have light stains, else very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

1927.JUN.25 Dutch Flight Calcutta to Batavia, franked with two 1a stamps tied by Calcutta datestamp, alongside a red and white flight label with small black biplane, the cover is addressed to Batavia (with JUL.1 receiver on back, alongside a Weltevreden datestamp of the same day) there is a 15c Dutch postage due stamp on front. An overall fine cover, with only 31 carried. (Image)

Est $ 300